Non-refillable bottle.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

J. P. STENDEBAGH. NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1a, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ANDREW. u Gamm co., wom-mmunvupnsns. mswnsmw PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

J. P. STENDBBACH. NON-RBPILLABLE BOTTLE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1S. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

lNlf E erro.

NON-REFiLLABLE BOTTLE.

Specicaton of Letters atent Patented May 22,1906.

Continuation of application Serial No. 184,496, filed December 9, 1903. This application filed June 13,1905. Serial No. 265,113.

[0 cir/Z whom, it may concern/.f

Be it known that I, JOHN 1. STENDEBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non- Refillable Bottles, oif'which the following is a specification. l

My invention relates to non-refillable bottles, the cbj ect of my invention being to provide av bottle which cannot be refilled after the contents have been withdrawn and which shall be sufliciently cheap and simple in construction to enable it to be put upon the market at a low enough price to satisfy commercial requirements in this particular.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the neck of the bottle embodying my invention shown in its upright position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the neck inverted. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the neck in a horizontal position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the neck tilted in an oblique position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the casing. y F 6 is a similar view of the operative parts cf the device assembled. Fig. 7 is an under plan view of the Heat-valve. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the valveguide detached. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the valve-seat detached. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the float-valve detached.' Fig. 1l is a similar view of one of the latches detached. Fig. 12 is a similar view of the disk closing the upper end of the valveeguide detached. Fig. 13 is a plan v iew of the thin metal disk before compression. 4

Referring to the drawings, l represents the neck of the bottle, which at its juncture with the bowl 2 is formed with an approximately square shoulder, as shown at 3. Above said shoulder 3 the neck is slightly` narrower than in the upper portion, enlarging at a shoulder 4. Above said shoulder 4 the neck is accurately cylindrical for the greater portion of its length up to an annular internal groove 5.

- Frein thence upward the neck continues vcylindrical internally to receive the cork 6.

7 represents the valve-seat, having a cylindrical portion 8 and a circular flanged portion 9, `forming the seat proper. Said flange rests upon the shoulder 4 andv prevents the valve-seat being pushed farther down in the neck.` The cylindrical portion has two diametrically opposite slits 1() extending for the greater portion of its height and, opening at the bottom and the lower ends of the two halves of the cylindrical portion thus divided, are bent outward to form flanges 11, which engage the under side of the shoulder 3 and prevent the valve-seat being pulled out of the neck of the bottle, and since, as will be presently described, the whole device for preventing refilling is secured to the valve-seat, this arrangement securely fastens the whole device to the bottle. When the valve-seat is placed in the neck, the flanges 1.1 are sprung inward until they reach the shoulder 3 of said neck, and on passing the same they irnmedi ately spring outward and on account of the squareness of said shoulder, retain said valveseat and the whole of the antirelilling device in place.

Around the portion 8 of the valve-seat is a cylindrical cork 13 about half the depth of said portion, tting snugly between it and the neck of the bottle and preventing the flow of liquid from the bottle except through the valve-opening. The cork 13 does not extend down on the portion 8 of the seat so low to compress the lower split portion thereof and prevent the halves expanding to their locking position.

14 represents the casing ofl the device, which iits accurately within the neck of the bottle. At its lower end it is formed with teeth 15, which pass through notches 16, formed in the edge of the flange 9 of the valve-seat, and are then bent against the under side of said fiange, thus locking the casing to the valve-seat, and thereby to the neck of the bottle. The upper end of said casing has a contracted slightly conical head 17 and a central cylindrical mouth 1S, through which the liquid flows. The extent of slope of the head is sufficient to prevent any liquid re maining in the casing after pouring 'from the bottle and then restoring the bottle to its normal upright position, thereby closing the valve. I

Fraudulent refilling of the bottle in the following nianner ispossible with all forms of non-reiillable bottles with which 1 am acquaintedthat is to say, it is possible to break a bottle, so as to remove therefrom the antireiilling device, then to remove from said locking device the valve, leaving, however, the ball, and then'to take another bottle of the same character and carrying the same brand of liquid and remove therefrom the antirefilling device, which may be done by cutting out the upper end of the casing,

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then removing the valve-cylinder and the contents thereof, so as to be able to reach the lower end of the valve-seat, and then removing said valve-seat, thus obtaining a perfect bottle. Then the mutilated and imperfect antirefilling device removed from the broken bottle can be inserted in the perfect bottle, and a complete bottle is thus obtained in which the ball rattles in the casing and produces the same sound and which has every appearance of being an original bottle, and yet the person owning the bottle can refill it indefinitely with a fraudulent imitation. I prevent this in the following manner: Around the mouth 18 of the casing there is inserted a disk 19, of very thin metal, almost as thin as metal foil. I prefer to make the disk of aluminium, although other metals may be used. This disk is stamped with any suitable inscription 20. The edge of the disk is turned up and pressed into the annular groove 5 while being placed in the neck of the bottle, so that it takes the shape of the neck when pressing it in the bottle, and since there are no two bottles eXactly alike the impression made by the first bottle on said disk will be visible when pressed into the second bottle. The disk is secured to the end of the casing and also to the neck of the bottle by a quantity of cement 21, which cements the disk and neck of the bottle in such a manner that when the bottle is broken the disk is destroyed and disfigured so as to make it unfit for use again. Any tampering with the antirefilling device or substitution of an imperfeet device is-at once detected, and by this construction, therefore, T prevent fraudulent refilling in the manner above described.

Within the casing is secured the valveguide 22, which is of a general tubular form, the upper end being a short continuous tube 23, from which extend downward the guidestrips 24, passing through slots 25 in the flange of the valve and their ends being inserted into depressions 26in the flange 9 of the valve-seat. These strips 24 first diverge downward from the continuous tube 23. They then converge and are bent into sockets 27 for the pivot-ring 28, extending outwardly from said sockets. They then converge again, and at about half the distance from the points of convergence to the ends of the strips they are split longitudinally, one portion of the split end being bent back underneath, as

shown at 29, the ends of the strips then entering the depressions 26. The length of that part of the valve-guide in which the ball travels is accurately calculated, so that, first, the valve closes before or at least as soon as the ball is arrested by the converging portions 49 of the strips; otherwise the ball will not be effective in causing the valve to close secondly, the distance the ball travels from the upper end of the valve-guide to the place where it is arrested should be slightly greater l in the liquid.

than the drop of the valve from the point where the strips are bent back to the valveseat, so that the ball is enabled to obtain a start on its descent before coming into contact with the float, and thus give it a slight impetus.

The object of the bent-back portions 29 is to form a snug bearing or guide for the cylindrical float-valve 30. lf this float-valve were guided solely by the lower conical portion of the valve-guide-that is, if the split portions of the strips were not turned back underneath-the float-valve would tilt to one side or the other and might bind and stick, rendering the device inoperative.

Upon the valve-guide is supported the pivot-ring 28 for the latches 33, which lock the valve except when the bottle is in position for pouring out and also lock it against fraudulent refilling by giving the bottle a rapid to-and-fro movement when immersed Each latch is formed with a pivot-eye 34 and with two ears 35, through which the pivot-ring 28 passes. When all the latches have been secured in place upon said ring, the ring is passed over the lower end of the valve-guide and snaps into the sockets 27, thus securing all the latches in their respective positions pivoted upon the valve-guide. These latches are formed with laterally-extending heads 36, which when the latches are in their locking position are adapted to bear against the flange 37 of the float 30 and prevent said float-valve leaving the valve-seat. /Vhen the bottle is sufficiently tilted, the latches all fall outward, so that said heads no longer bear against the flange of the oat-valve and said valve is free to fall away from the valve-seat.

For a further preventive against the admission of liquid by giving a sudden jerk to the bottle in a horizontal position when submerged in liquid l provide upper and lower rings 38 39, of which the upper ring 38 lies inside the tails 40 of the latches, while the' lower ring 39 surrounds the latches. When the upper ring 38 falls toward the center, it engages the inner surfaces of the latches above their pivots, and thereby moves their lower ends inward, securely locking the valve. The latches 33 are formed with shoulders 5() above their pivots, which serve two purposes: first, to throw the center of gravity ofthe lower portion of the latches out from the pivots, so that the heads 36 of the latches swing outward when the bottle is inverted. Secondly, when the lower` ring 39 drops it strikes the shoulders 50, thus positively tilting outward said latches in case they would otherwise stick and not tilt by gravity alone. The tails 4() of said latches are made sufficiently long to prevent the ring 38 passing the ends of the tails and escaping to the outside thereof. Again, when the bottle is in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, the

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J lower ring 39 closes the upper latches of the series against the flange of the valve and prevents the opening of the valve. It will be seen that in every position in which the bottle is held, except when it is tilted to a considerable extent for pouring out, the valve is held closed by these latches and rings and that it is also held closed when the bottle is given a rapid. to-and-fro movement when iinrnersed in liquid.

The valve is formed with a conical closing portion 41 and a cylindrical float portion 42, all in one piece. It also has a flange 37 containing slots 25, through which pass the strips ofthe valve-guide, thereby guiding the valve in its movement, and against which flange also press the heads 36 of the pivoted latches. Between the end of the float-valve and the end of the valve-gui de is a heavy ball 43, preferably of glass or porcelain, the function of which is to roll down the inclined upper end of the valve-guide when the bottle is held in a horizontal position, and thus press the float-valve to its seat, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In order to avoid binding, the upper end of the float is formedv with a central boss 44, so as to reduce the area of contact between the ball and float and more especially to insure the pressure being as central as possible. In like manner the disk 45, which forins the upper end of the valve-guide, is formed with an `inwardly-projecting central boss 52. This disk is cut with teeth 46 and notches which register with recesses formed in the upper end of the valve-guide, said teeth serving as a foncev to prevent tampering with the device by inserting a wire, and the valve-guide is also formed with a circular-series of teeth 47, alternating vertically with the teeth 46 and Yforming a second fence for the saine purpose.

I claiml. In a non-reiillable bottle, the combination, with the neck of the bottle and a valve, of a valve-seat having a lower portion slit longitudinally at its lower end and there bent outward to 'form a flange engaging the lower end of the neck of the bottle, substantially as described.

2. In a non-refillable bottle, in coinbination with the neck of the bottle having a shoulder, a valve-seat having a flanged portion resting on said shoulder and a lower portion slit longitudinally, and having a flange engaging the lower end of the neck of the bottle, and a valve resting on said seat, substantially as described.

3. In a non-refillable bottle, in coinbination with the neck of the bottle, and a valve therein, said neck having a shoulder, a valveseat having a flange portion resting on said shoulder and having a portion extending downward in the neck of the bottle, said latter portion having two opposite longitudinal slitsv at its lower end, and having its lower edge bent outward to forni a flange engaging the lower end of the neck of the bottle, substantially as described.

4. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle, and a valve therein, said neck having` a shoulder, a valveseat having a flange portion resting on said shoulder and having a portion extending downward in the neck of the bottle, said latter portion having two opposite longitudinal slits at its lower end, and having its lower edge bent outward to forni a flange engaging the lower end of the neck of the bottle, and a cylinder of cork surrounding the upper end only of said downwardly-extending portion, between the saine and the neck of the bottle, substantially as described.

5. In a non-refillable bottle, in coinbination with a valve-seat and a valve, a casing therefor having a niain cylindrical portion fitting accurately within the neck of the bottle, and having a head, and a central cylindrical mouth, ineans for retaining the casing within the neck, a disk of thin inetal around said inouth upon said head, and ceinent securing said disk to said head and to the neck of the bottle, substantially as described.

V6. In a non-refillable bottle, in combination with la valve-seat and a valve, a casing therefor having a inain cylindrical portion fitting accurately within the neck of the bottle and having a head, provided with a pouring-orifice, ineans for retaining the .casing within the neck, a disk of thin 'nietal around said pouring-orifice upon said head, and ceinent securing said disk to said head and to the neck of the bottle, substantially as described.

7. In a non-refillable bottle, the coinbination of a valve-seat, a float-valve therefor having a flange, and pivoted latches arranged to engage said flange and hold the valve to its seat, substantially as described.

8. In a non-refillable bottle, the co'inbination, with the neck of the bottle, and a valveseat therein, of a float-valve, and a circular series of pivoted devices for holding said valve to its seat, at least one of said devices operating except when the bottle in inverted, substantially vas described.

9. In a non-reiillable bottle, the coinbination, with the neck of thebottle and valveseat therein, of a partially-cylindrical floatvalve therefor, having an annular flange with perforations therein, guide-strips for said flange, a heavy ball above said float, and a guide for said ball extending downwardly, whereby when the bottle isheld in a horizontal position said ball will always run downhill to push the float-valve to its seat, substantially as described.

10. In a non-re'lillable bottle, the conibination, with the neck of the bottle and a valveseat therein, of a partially-eylindrical floatvalve therefor having an annular flange with perforations, guide-strips for said flange, a

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heavy ball above said oat, and a guide for receive the pressure of the ball centrally, substantially as described.

11. In a non-reiillable bottle, the combination, with the neck of the bottle having a valve-seat, and a valve, of latches for holding the valve to its seat, a ring on which said latches are pivoted, and a valve-guide depressed to receive said ring and hold the same in position, substantially as described.

12. In a non-reiillable bottle, the combination, with the neck of the bottle having a valve-seat, and a valve, of latches for holding said valve to its seat, a ring on which said latches are pivoted, and a valve-guide, said guide comprising strips bent inwardly to form sockets for said ring, substantially as described.

13. In a non-refillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle having a valve-seat, and a valve, latches for holding said valve to its seat, and a valve-guide comprising strips bent inward to form sockets for pivoting said latches, substantially as described.

14. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination withthe neck of the bottle having a seat and a valve, a valve-guide having a substantially cylindrical guiding portion for the valve, said guide expanding upward from a lower portion on its outer surface and having movably mounted thereon latches to hold the valve to its seat, substantially as described.

15. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle having a valve-seat and valve, a valve-guide comprising strips the lower ends of which are split, part of each strip at its lower end being bent backward to form a bearing for said valve, substantially as described.

16. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination with the neck having a valve-seat and a valve, pivoted latches for holding said valve to its seat, each having ears bent up and perforated, and a ring passing through said perorations, substantially as described.

17. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle having a valve-seat and a valve, a valve-guide, latches pivoted thereon for holding the valve to its seat, and upper and lower rings engaging said latches, the upper ring being within the upper ends of the latches and the lower ring around the lower ends, substantially as described.

18. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle, and a valveseat, a valve having a conical portion itting the said seat and with a hollow cylindrical portion forming a oat, the whole in one piece, said valve having an annular perforated flange, and guide-strips through said perforations, substantially as described.

19. In a non-rei'illable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle and a device in said neck for preventing reiilling, said neck having an annnular groove or recess above said device, means secured in said groove above said device, indicating by its removal the tampering with or mutilation of said device, substantially as described.

20. In a non-reicillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle having a valveseat, a valve, a valveguide, and latches pivoted thereon for holding the valve to its seat, said latches having shoulders eX- tending outward above the pivots, whereby, when the bottle is inverted, the latches swing outward at their ends in proximity to said valve, substantially as described.

21. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle having a valve-seat and a valve, pivoted latches for holding the valve to its seat, said latches having shoulders above their pivots and a ring surrounding the latches below said pivots, substantially as described.

22. In a non-refillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle having a valve-seat, and a valve, a guide for said valve having recesses formed in its upper end, and a disk provided with teeth and notches which register with said recesses, the valve-guide being also formed with a circular series of teeth alternating vertically with the teeth in the disk, substantially as described.

23. In a non-reiillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle and a valveseat therein, a valve, a guide ior said valve having guide-strips and depressions in the valve-seat into which the ends of the guidestrips are seated, substantially as described.

24. In a non-refillable bottle, in combination with the neck of the bottle and a valveseat having a ilange and notches in said flange, a casing fitting accurately within the neck of the bot-tle having teeth passed through saidlnotches and bent against the under side of the flange, and a valve on said valve-seat, and a suitable guide for said valve within said casing, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. P. STENDEBACH.

IVitnesses FRANors M. WRIGHT, BEssrE GoRFrNKEL,

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